SS chips and corn cob media?

[bummer7]

I think I have been sheltering-in-place for far too long now. I searched the postings on this and did not see anything so I thought I would ask here.

Been thinking of trying out "wet" case cleaning and started to think what would happen if cases were tumbled using both equal parts of corn cob media and SS chips? Have anyone tried this? And what did you find?

Thought about this as I tumble clean my cases now using Grit-o-Cob media. I think it is 2040 grit which is pretty small particles. Almost like a corn meal consistency. The media is fine enough it doesn't get stuck in primer pockets and polishes cases quite nicely. But this method doesn't clean primer pockets nor the inside of cases.

 

[Dewey 68]

Been thinking of trying out "wet" case cleaning and started to think what would happen if cases were tumbled using both equal parts of corn cob media and SS chips?

Corn cob media in a wet tumbler would do nothing but make a mess.

 

[Dudedog]

Corn cob media in a wet tumbler would do nothing but make a mess.

My though exactly, Wet corncob=soggy mess. Ditto for walnut.
I have never used SS chips when wet tumbling just pins.

Do you have a rotary tumbler (barrel) or the vibe type?
Not real sure pins or chips would work out well in the vibe type.

In my Lyman cyclone with pins about an hour gives me shiny brass that looks like new.
Corn cob and Flitz in my dry tumbler (vibe type) makes the brass more shiny but does not clean as well.

Adding a dab of car wax works well in dry tumbling, so I thought lets give it a try when wet tumbling.
BAD idea! Everything came out coated with grey slime which took me lots of 409 and time to clean up.
It might work with different wax but sure did not turn out well for me when I tried it, and after hours cleaning up the mess I don't feel like trying again.

(getting smarter in my old age in my younger days I would have had to do it 2 or 3 times to learn)

For wet I use a dab of citric acid (canning section at the supermarket) and auto wash and wax.
The cases get whatever wash and wax I am using for the car, the car gets what's on sale. (usually Turtle) But I have used 4 or 5 different flavors of was and wax and all seem about the same.
Never measure how much wash and wax I just give it a generous dollop of WW and about a 9mm case of citric acid.
How much acid depends on you water PH, Higher PH water need more acid.

 

[MikeInOr]

I would recommend adding 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder then bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes after you are done tumbling.

 

[bummer7]

I should clarify. I'm not thinking of mixing the media, chips, and water. But a dry approach. Just using chips and the dry media to clean cases. Again, no liquid. Just tumbling w/ ss chips and the media.

I would recommend adding 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder then bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes after you are done tumbling.

MikeInOr, How about I add a teaspoon of vanilla too and a cup of sugar too?

 

[2011redrider]

Again, what kind of tumber? Vibe or an actual tumbler that rotated on a base? I tried the chipps and went back to pins. Thet wew covered in cutting oil and it took 2 trips in the wet tumbler with the purple degreaser from Walmart, Would think the seller (Southern Shine Media on FB) would warn buyers. Pins were much easier to separate from the shells. Not sure if the chips would be too heavy to tumble in a vibe type tumbler. Guess it would take a test run to see if it works in a dry tumbler, and need a quick release magnet to separate the chips from the corn later if it works.

 

[Texas10mm]

Steel media won't work in a vibratory tumbler.

 

[bummer7]

Again, what kind of tumber? Vibe or an actual tumbler that rotated on a base? I tried the chipps and went back to pins. Thet wew covered in cutting oil and it took 2 trips in the wet tumbler with the purple degreaser from Walmart, Would think the seller (Southern Shine Media on FB) would warn buyers. Pins were much easier to separate from the shells. Not sure if the chips would be too heavy to tumble in a vibe type tumbler. Guess it would take a test run to see if it works in a dry tumbler, and need a quick release magnet to separate the chips from the corn later if it works.

My bad. It's a rotary tumbler. A Thumler's Model B.

I was thinking I mix up a dedicated batch of chips and cob cob and not worry about separating it. Just keep this batch of tumbling media separate altogether. If I decide this idea doesn't work, I can use a magnet to separate the chips from the grit-o-cob media. It shouldn't be a problem as this is a dry mix and no liquid ever used in it.

I thought I read on another forum ss chips don't get stuck in the primer flash holes. They are small enough they pass through. even when cleaning .223 or .38 spcl cases. Whereas the pins come in different diameters and there are different problems associated with the pin diameters.

 

[MikeInOr]

I should clarify. I'm not thinking of mixing the media, chips, and water. But a dry approach. Just using chips and the dry media to clean cases. Again, no liquid. Just tumbling w/ ss chips and the media.



MikeInOr, How about I add a teaspoon of vanilla too and a cup of sugar too?

I have always just used walnut media on dirty cases and I have always been very pleased with the results. Corncob media seems to give a bit more shine to the cases but takes longer to work on really dirty cases. I do not believe that adding steel pins will help much... but no one can say for sure until someone tries it!

 

[bummer7]

I have always just used walnut media on dirty cases and I have always been very pleased with the results. Corncob media seems to give a bit more shine to the cases but takes longer to work on really dirty cases. I do not believe that adding steel pins will help much... but no one can say for sure until someone tries it!

Me too. Been using fhe same tumbler for over 50 years now. Started out using crushed walnut shells and brasso back then. Tried other dry media over the years and have settled on Grit-o-cob for the past 15 years. I really like the 2040 grit as it doesnt get struck in the primer pockets and works well cleaning lube off of loaded rounds. Plus it's inexpensive too boot!

However, I'm wondering if someone has tried the tumbling ss chips in a dry mode?

 

[Highland Lofts]

I'll stick with the wet treatment.
No sence in reinventing the wheel.
I have a few gallon or so size full of corn cob, walnut hulls and 3/4 box of coarse wallnut from harbor freight just and a Cabalas tumbler just taking up space in my gun room since I started uesing my Frankford Wet Tumbler.
Sort of like gun wall art. I like looking at the stuff.

 

[gunlaw]

I would recommend adding 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder then bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes after you are done tumbling.

Ya forgot the chocolate chips.